Our Early Retirement and Wanderlust goals for 2024
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- čas přidán 1. 06. 2024
- Following on from our previous video on how and why we set goals in our early retirement, join us as we share with you the goals we have set ourselves for 2024. We have followed the exact process we described and have goals centred on our post retirement careers, relationships, health and personal development.
We are Richard and Jackie and we live in the UK. We retired from teaching at the age of 51 in the summer of 2022. Our plans for early requirement include relocating to the Yorkshire Dales, developing our forever home and travelling the UK, Europe and eventually the world in our VW campervan Nelson.
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Check out our blog earlyretirementwanderlust.com
Many thanks,
Richard & Jackie
Very inspiring video, we are 53 this year and I am enjoying developing passive income to fund early retirement for my husband. I would love to hear how you handle your finances through the year, not actual numbers just how you manage and plan for trips. We will be living off savings for a few years before we can get pension at 60.
Thank you 😊 For most parts we have a monthly budget that we take out of our savings that we break down into our set outgoing (electric, council tax, insurances etc) and we take out cash each week that we try to stick to for all our costs including petrol, wood, food, household items. This leaves us with around £500 per month spare in theory - we are realistic that there will always be a big unexpected cost that arises (car service, new tyres, birthday presents...) anything that is spare goes in a holiday savings pot to pay for ferries etc. Our 2 big trips last year we had to pay from savings. We also have a small income from freelance writing and CZcams that goes in our holiday pot. We are really lucky that most of our travel costs are very small when we are in the van and we own the van outright - if we get away for a few nights it is just petrol and maybe a campsite fee.
We just keep thinking the worst thing that can happen is we have to take on part time or seasonal work to top up our income - but work that does not come with the commitment and stresses of a teaching career.
Your previous video helped me kickstart the development of my goals and plans for this year and this video offered some helpful insight into deeper considerations. Thank you both so much! Richard it is definitely a challenge taking care of an aging parent’s needs while working. My mother died 10 years ago and a couple of years ago I had to help my Dad sell their home, find a suitable condo for him closer to where we live - and all while working. It was stressful and continues to be as his needs change. One thing both my husband and I have realized is that our health is critical as we balance everything during these last few years of working before our retirement. Your Yorkshire Dales lifestyle highlights are like my North Star!
It is so hard having the worry of what will happen with aging parents and is in our every thought and decision. I am really lucky that my mum is active, mobile and independent living her best life travelling (she is back in Florida for January) but this time last year we were really worried about Richards mum who absolutely did not want to be in a care home but could not live independently- safely. She ended up in hospital and luckily for us she was assessed and the decision was taken out of our hands. She is now safe and content in a lovely home, she has put on weight again and is so much healthier and even with her dementia now knows this is her new home. We know our time with both mums is limited and precious and at least we can have the freedom to spend it with them. X
I think Richard is the male counterpart to my own personality! LOL obsessing over personal metrics, keeping a diary, interest in urban sketching, psych reading...LOL You two are the closest that I can imagine for us when we retire. Here's to an amazing 2024! Cheers!!
It keeps him busy 😊 we are all set to enjoy a great 2024 - all the best to you both too x
Multi-day treks are wonderful. There is a fair bit of suffering for a short-ish trip (anything less than a week) as it takes your body time to adjust. I actually enjoy doing this solo more than I do with other people, I get to a sort of trance-like state after walking in silence for several days at a time. There is something very satisfying about carrying your entire life on your back and packing it up each morning. Best of luck with your goals this year.
It is something Richard has wanted to do for a while and when we bumped into an ex Vet in America who was on the continental divide through hike (over 3000 miles in) Richard fancied a modest starter and the Dales way is ideal for us. We did look at the tour de Mont Blanc but for now it was too expensive for us as I would want to stay in the refuges and be catered for 🤣 we must also remember that we have so much on our doorstep in the UK 🏔️🥾
Btw, Kathy is British, living in Canada but does very successful online classes.
Hi both. Can I recommend Kathy White Yoga for over 50s. Perfect yoga practice!
Thank you - I will have a look 🧘♀️
Every year I say I am going to draw more and I start with good enthusiasm but I am still on the same sketch book from 2019!!! Perhaps this is the year... As for the yoga, try out a local class if there are any but I can recommend Yoga with Adrienne on CZcams. She is the queen of online yoga. I did her classes every day through lockdowns and still exercise every morning. Once you have done it for a while it will be easy to remember when you are away. We take our yoga mats in the van and use them as the first layer on our bed at night too!! Good luck for 2024.
Thank you I will look up Adrienne and when we are back in the Dales I have seen a yoga class that I might start going to. I loved doing gymnastics up until my mid 20’s so am quite flexible I just want to keep that up 😊 great idea with mats!!
Thanks guys and some great advice shared. We are in the midst of the move from house to motorhome which was our main goal for this year. I like the headings you have used. I have just turned 60 although Jo is much younger so we will live on savings and a small MOD pension I have taken. I can get Locum work as a Social Worker if required. So for us it is all systems go!
Sounds very exciting, happy travels in your motorhome. Will you move around a lot or try and stay in a base? We could do supply teaching - but neither of us are keen 😬
@@earlyretirementwanderlust thanks and initially we have secured a pitch up and look after a wedding venue with animals for friends who are travelling until April. It is near Loch Lomond and we used to live nearby. We can spend a few months planning and reflecting on what next.
Great resource, thanks for pointing out your blog, will use this as a resource for inspiration
Thank you - we really enjoy the process and reviewing our goals every quarter helps keep us accountable.
Hi Jackie & Richard, love watching your videos and following your travels. We are 5 years early retired with VW campervan and the yoga routine that has kept in our routine is 15 minute morning yoga by Sara Beth Yoga here on CZcams. Dave & Pam
Thanks for that I will have a look. I have found a couple of routines that I like so far. Happy travels in your camper 🚐
Ali Abdaal's new book is very good if you like self help/business books! Love the annual planning process.
Richard follows his CZcams channel - we will see how this years plans go!
Happy new year! Thanks for another thought provoking video. I have always had a notion that I’d like to retire at 55, but I haven’t really considered how I’m going to fashion the pipe dream into reality. The headings certainly provide food for thought and for me health, wellbeing and relationships too the list. Yes, you are definitely relaxing on camera; I hope you have a great 2024. Take care!
Thank you ☺️ we like goal setting and thinking about what we want to achieve in the year. And Rich really embraced the Chris Williamson model of the 4 areas which I like too with the focus on health and relationships 😊 happy new year x
This could have been a video about my goals!
I’ve done some walking in Luxembourg, it’s a lovely country. I used to cycle but didn’t do any in 2023 - my goal is to start again this year. I started running in May last year after never running since doing PE at school in the 80s, and now do parkrun every week - it would be great to see you at Skipton parkrun one week. One of the things on my ‘list of things to do before I’m 55’ (I write lists as well) is also the Dales Way - but it will be b&bs for me, I won’t be camping!
I’m sure that continuing to follow your progress with your goals this year will motivate me to keep up with mine.
If not thought of Luxembourg as a place to go walking! We will do some research 🧐 who knows with the park runs- they are getting really popular now- I’m not sure I would ever be motivated enough to do regular 5kms and Richard is not a keen runner he just does it because it’s free!! 🤣 I am looking forward to getting out cycling in the spring. We have got our fingers crossed for better weather this summer for the Dales Way - pretty sure we would use a couple of b and b’s along the way, but they are not really in our budget at the moment!!
As you can tell by my name, Frugal Mr B, I also like free stuff! Unlike walking and cycling, I can’t motivate myself to run solo which is why I like the parkruns - they are also a great motivator to visit different places as there are parkruns everywhere - I even did 2 in Poland last year when I was visiting Germany!
@FrugalMrB I hadn’t thought about the park runs like that before 🏃
Thank you for sharing this video and many of your previous videos. I have received great value from the videos and blogs, for which I am very grateful, you are an amazing team. I admire your courage putting yourself out there and I would not have believed that you were not comfortable in front of the camera, as I consider you come across completely natural and authentic, probably not your 'typical vloggers", so you are my favourites! Highlights for me have been Richard's morning routine and the benefits of creating habits together with self care and Headspace blogs. It gave me confidence to start meditating, and I am trying to set goals, but I have never done this before so it's tough (avoiding being accountable!). I also like the balance that Jackie brings where you have a different approach to Richard, which I have enjoyed learning from. If you decide to choose New Zealand as your next continent, please come and visit me and my wife here, its a beautiful place. Happy 2024.
Hi Martin, many thanks for such a lovely comment- it makes what we are doing all worth while! We are really glad that you have found some things to take away from this video- life is all just about picking up bits and bobs from all over and applying the ones that resonate with you. Glad that you are having a go at meditation- it really has changed my life and my outlook over the past few years. The best way to keep accountable with goals is to share them with people- we have got this from sharing some of our goals on CZcams which might be a little extreme!
New Zealand is definitely on our bucket list...we just need to get saving a bit before we commit- perhaps when we get our pensions at 55!
Have an amazing 2024 and thanks again for reaching out. All the best. R
Great goals from you both, and yes, you are definitely getting better at talking to camera. Well done both and thanks for sharing. 👍😎 Happy skiing 🎿
Thank you 😊 we like having that little bit of focus and direction x
Happy New Year 🎉 to you both and well done on your new goals. Committing to them in public is a great way to keep them in mind! As to yoga, it’s possible when travelling - tai chi is even easier to do as no equipment is needed, just some level space. If you are new to yoga, which is a really great idea, I strongly suggest you first take some classes with a properly trained tutor (eg Wheel of Yoga) they can suggest adaptions to your personal physical needs, if required. Also they can ensure that you are doing the poses safely & correctly - you would not get the full benefit, as a newbie, if you just follow eg online instruction. Good luck to you both for 2024. 😊
I have spotted a yoga class in our local town that I might join when we are back from skiing. For the first few weeks I have found some great yoga type stretching videos that I am doing to start getting my flexibility back on track - I was a gymnast until just after uni!
Great video guys. You do inspire us to do things better. You also have great plans for 2024. Looking forward to seeing Richard’s sketches in the future 😂😂😂 L S Lowry beware. Looking forward to following you in 2024. Irvine & Karen.
To right L S Lowry beware!!!! On a serious note, I am really looking forward to doing something that again is right on the edge of my comfort zone! Like many people I guess, I have been a little bruised by teacher comments in the past about my inability to draw! A few years ago I did the same with writing magazine articles for the same reason and I really enjoyed that.
Not sure when I will be ready to share any of my creations with anyone!!!
Have a good one, R.
Bring your van down under
It's on our bucket list for when we get our pension! We want to do an extended trip touring - The gap year we never had as youngsters.
Great vLog, maybe consider an electric bike to help with the hills when you get tired and keep it off when you dont need its help.
🤣 Richard likes the fitness challenge of hill cycling and my biggest Barrier to getting out is being a fair weather cyclist - not something an electric bike will help with 🤣🤣 I do enjoy it when we do get out and we had new bikes a few years ago (after our road bikes were stolen in Italy 😢)
What about South Africa? Money goes further than North America. Drakensberg mountains,, Stellenbosch, Franschoek. Flights reasonably priced between Durban and C.T. Good walking and cycling if sensible. Good beer, wine, steak and it's warm. Six weeks to get value from the airfare.
It is a consideration. I was born in South Africa and lived in Johannesburg for 10 years and have never been back. We do like a good braai and biltong!
Happy New Year, looking forward to future Vlogs and wish you the very best in achieving your Goals. One Question for you, are you finding the Finance Challenge up to your Pension at 55 a challenge or easy to manage, do you worry about running out?
We had a good chunk of savings and we have just gone through our finances again with a spreadsheet to work out a realistic budget we need to stick to 😬we are not worried as such as in reality worst case scenario is we would have to do some part time or seasonal work until 55. I suppose ideally working closer to 55 would be a better option but with all our personal upheaval we felt and still feel that it was the best option for our well being. No regrets so far!!
Brilliant and well done getting out early will have a positive impact longer term of that I am certain.
Great video - I'm a teacher (32 years +), went part time in September - phasing down to do what you do. Are you funding your lifestyle from savings? Will you take your teacher pension at 55? Following with interest. Many thanks
Thanks for watching - hope you are enjoying the part time hours as a primary teacher I was lucky to only do 3 days part time. We are using our savings at the moment and will absolutely get our pensions at 55 as we will be broke by then 🤣 it was great news going on the new pension transitional calculator as our lump sums will be bigger than we expected with the new ruling 😊 have you checked it out yet?
Is 2 videos a week too much work on the editing side? Definitely don't want it to become a chore!!
I found you via the van I think but I stay for the early retirement!
Actually when we travel the videoing is easier and Richard is an early riser so it gives him something to do while he waits for me to wake up- he does enjoy it too 😊 we are hoping there is a bit of an early retired van community out there - thanks for staying with us and watching
It sounds silly but get an electric bike. People who get these tend to immediately cycle further! And it negates the hills
Sadly electric bikes aren’t in the budget at least until we get our pensions 🤣